Customizing Rebar Cages

Adjust and customize rebar cages generated by automatic calculation

The result of the automatic rebar cage calculated by the Reinforced Concrete BIM Designers is based on default country settings. Using the reinforcement settings users can fine-tune and customize rebar cages generated by the automatic calculation, for example imposing specific values and settings to longitudinal or transversal bars. The Reinforced Concrete BIM Designer commands automatically detect the type of element selected and present options related to these element types such as footings, beams and columns. The reinforcement options vary for individual elements.

Reinforced Concrete BIM Designers - Footings

Preliminary Sizing

One of the features of the Reinforced Concrete BIM Designers is the possibility to perform a preliminary foundation design for footings. The footing's geometry is adjusted and a rebar cage generated as a result of an iterative calculation considering the applied loads.

After launching the "Preliminary sizing" command the elements properties from the model can be further verified during the design process.

Once the structural design of the footing is completed, the rebar cage properties (diameter, spacing, covers, etc) are set in accordance with the selected country design code. In the majority of cases the calculated reinforcement cage should not need to be changed but using the Generated Reinforcement panel, the resulting reinforcement can be revised and adjusted to accommodate additional requirements for each type of element. (N.B. Some dialogues may vary in appearance depending on the platform but the available options remain the same.)

Users can also adjust the main/secondary longitudinal reinforcement bars and the transversal bars as required.

The Reinforced Concrete BIM Designers allow complete client-side configuration giving the user complete control over the impact of any changes applied. For example if the quantity of bars imposed by the user results in the real reinforcement area being smaller than the theoretical requirement, the corresponding text becomes red indicating that the new configuration does not meet the minimum design requirement.

Reinforced Concrete BIM Designers - Columns

For columns the properties of the longitudinal and transversal reinforcement for any of the three sections considered: upper, main and lower bars can be adjusted.

The longitudinal starter bars (lower or upper) assure the reinforcement continuity over the entire height of the column; as a result the column detects and works together with the footing and the column from the level above.

The upper transversal bars are the links along the upper longitudinal bars. The same applies for the main and lower transversal bars.

Reinforced Concrete BIM Designers - Beams

Reinforcement for a typical beam is divided into several categories that can be customized and set individually. This enables the user complete flexibility to adjust and fin-tune the properties of the longitudinal, transversal, anti-crack, sliding, splice bars, continuity and lintel reinforcement to suit a wide variety of applications.

For each bar category various parameters such as: quantity, diameter, cover, anchorage length, hook length, hook angle, etc. can be customized and adjusted as needed. Changes made will have an immediate effect on the real reinforcement diagrams, which are automatically updated.